I think South Park put it well in one of their episodes involving Mormonism. The kid who was telling one of the main characters about Mormonism didn't really care much about the fact that the founding of Mormonism was a scam - but more how it helped his family to be a family and to live good charitable lives…
I think South Park put it well in one of their episodes involving Mormonism. The kid who was telling one of the main characters about Mormonism didn't really care much about the fact that the founding of Mormonism was a scam - but more how it helped his family to be a family and to live good charitable lives. That is religion at its best.
If you are of a mainline denomination you might think that the Book of Mormon was written by a human with an agenda without divine inspiration. Some of us feel that way about the Old and New Testaments and the Koran (among other "Holy" books).
At the end of the day, under the American Constitution, what religion you are shouldn't matter any more to government than what color socks you wear. But there are those who believe in certain religions that would make it so that it does matter. I am sure that is where any "disdain" you feel comes from.
Yes we agree, I think. I feel disdain for people who feel morally superior to others, based in their religious teachings or even just their religious identity (most self-identified Christians I know couldn’t tell me where they go to church, because they don’t), and I also feel disdain for people who expect others to adhere to their religious beliefs in the secular world.
I think most religions start with sincere beliefs favoring goodness. But the message is inevitably hijacked for power agendas. People have a powerful need to explore spirituality; I think of it like sex - keep it to yourself and do it in private.
Disdain. No. Disregard. Maybe.
I think South Park put it well in one of their episodes involving Mormonism. The kid who was telling one of the main characters about Mormonism didn't really care much about the fact that the founding of Mormonism was a scam - but more how it helped his family to be a family and to live good charitable lives. That is religion at its best.
If you are of a mainline denomination you might think that the Book of Mormon was written by a human with an agenda without divine inspiration. Some of us feel that way about the Old and New Testaments and the Koran (among other "Holy" books).
At the end of the day, under the American Constitution, what religion you are shouldn't matter any more to government than what color socks you wear. But there are those who believe in certain religions that would make it so that it does matter. I am sure that is where any "disdain" you feel comes from.
Yes we agree, I think. I feel disdain for people who feel morally superior to others, based in their religious teachings or even just their religious identity (most self-identified Christians I know couldn’t tell me where they go to church, because they don’t), and I also feel disdain for people who expect others to adhere to their religious beliefs in the secular world.
I think most religions start with sincere beliefs favoring goodness. But the message is inevitably hijacked for power agendas. People have a powerful need to explore spirituality; I think of it like sex - keep it to yourself and do it in private.